The Latest Fitness Gadgets to Gauge and Goad

Gadgets that high-level athletes use to monitor their health and training progress are becoming more popular among consumers as prices fall and wireless technology grows more sophisticated.

ENLARGE

The $99 HAPIfork monitors eating speed and encourages a user to slow down by vibrating.
Hapilabs

This year's Consumer Electronics Show has become a mecca new devices that measure user' health and track their eating exercise habits. Tom Gryta joins Lunch Break to highlight the latest developments. Photo: Bodymedia.

These new health-related products are one of the more striking trends at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, the biggest annual event for high-tech companies to show off their new wares. The devices range from specially equipped wristbands and watches to disposable monitoring patches and even a high-tech dining fork that measures how many bites you've taken. Many devices count how many steps taken, stairs climbed, calories burned and even your quality of sleep.

Most generate data about user activity that is sent wirelessly to smartphone apps for users to track progress.

The $99 HAPIfork is attracting attention at CES. The fork monitors how quickly a user eats, and encourages the diner to slow down by gently vibrating. The fork, to be released later this year, will track such information as how many "fork servings" are taken per minute and per meal—data that can be uploaded to a computer or smartphone, according to its creator, Hong Kong-based HAPIlabs.

San Francisco's FitBit Inc. was originally known for devices that clip onto a user's belt and track physical activity. The San Francisco company unveiled at CES a wristband-style monitor called FitBit Flex, due out in the spring, which keeps track of activities, goals reached and sleep. It carries the same $99 price tag as the earlier, clip-on FitBit One products.

A tiny UFO-looking activity monitor called the Misfit Shine, due out this spring, is an all-metal waterproof tracker with a six-month replaceable battery that tracks steps and distances swum or cycled. Its maker, Misfit Wearables, co-founded by former Apple Chief Executive John Sculley, raised more than $600,000 on crowdfunding site Indiegogo.com to produce the tracker. It will sell for $79 and doesn't use Bluetooth, but syncs when placed on a smartphone's screen.

ENLARGE

The ibitz PowerKey, $34.99, rewards children for meeting goals with game bonuses.
GeoPalz

For children, GeoPalz Inc. brought out the ibitz PowerKey, a $34.99 clip-on monitor that is available for order online now. It lets children take care of a virtual pet, unlock access to games and win in-game bonuses on the wirelessly linked app when they reach the goal of a certain number of steps taken. GeoPalz is also selling the ibitz Unity at $49.99 for parents to track their own activity. Parents can also use a smartphone app to keep tabs on their kids' data.

BodyMedia unveiled a disposable waterproof monitor at CES that is worn as a patch on the upper arm. The Vue, developed with Avery DennisonAVY-1.22% Medical Solutions and due out in the second half of the year, looks like a large Band-Aid and will measure calorie burn, activity and sleep patterns for up to a week.

ENLARGE

The Core 2 monitor from BodyMedia is worn as an armband.
BodyMedia Inc.

The company also unveiled a prototype of its Core 2 monitor that is worn as an armband with interchangeable faceplates, straps and cuffs. The device will have an optional, longer strap that turns it into a heart monitor. Both products will launch in the second half of the year. The Core 2 will sell for a price similar to the current version at $99 and the patch will be "significantly lower," a spokeswoman said.

Some companies are repurposing devices used by clinicians to monitor patients for sports and fitness applications. One reason: Getting Food and Drug Administration approval for medical devices can be a long and laborious process. Getting a green light from the agency isn't required for sports and fitness gear.

Medical-technology company Masimo Corp.MASI-0.02% is making its first appearance at CES this year as it launches a sports-and-fitness-focused version of its pulse oximeter, which measures blood oxygen with the note of "not intended for medical use."

ENLARGE

Masimo's $249 iSpO2 monitors blood oxygen levels.
Masimo

The iSpO2 sells for $249 online, and works with older versions of the iPhone, iPad and iPod that have a 30-pin connector. The company is working on an Android version, spokesman Mike Drummond said.

The technology uses a wired clip that fits over a person's ring finger. Similar devices are often used in hospitals, but the consumer version is aimed at aviators, high-impact athletes and those susceptible to altitude sickness.

Last year, 30 million wearable, wireless monitoring devices—including those used for medical and clinical use—were sold in the U.S., according to ABI Research analyst Jonathan Collins. That figure is up 37% from 2011 and Mr. Collins says he expects sales to rise to 160 million devices a year by 2017.

Insurers have started encouraging consumers to use devices to help boost fitness and cut health-care costs.

"The old tools clearly aren't working," said Reed Tuckson, UnitedHealth Group'sUNH0.70% chief of medical affairs, referring to things like pamphlets from doctors' offices.

UnitedHealth integrated FitBit's monitor into its app. Dr. Tuckson said that any brand of monitor people choose can be an important tool to spur them to stay healthy and, ultimately, bring down costs for insurers and patients.

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.